A teardown of the upcoming update to Gmailfor Android -- Gmail 4.6 -- revealed numerous confirmations that ads lay lurking in the update from Google Inc. (GOOG), as well as showcasing some welcome improvements.

Notably Android Policefound strings, 8 classes, and even a full library with "Ad" in their names in the Gmail APK. A big question left unanswered by the teardown is whether the feature will harass users with fake email ads, a feature added in a recent controversial update to the desktop browser client, or simply ad normal banner ads like those found in many free (ad-supported) Android games.

The Droid Guyis claiming the changelog for Gmail 4.6 hints that the new mobile ads will be in the form of email spam.

Gmail 4.6 [Image Source: Android Police]

The update does bring some welcome changes in a heavy overhaul to the Gmail card, including a warning about unset messages, new icons for contacts you don't have a picture of (a stylish letter from their first initial), and darker UI icons.

left: Before the autopicture; right: After the update. [Image Source: Android Police]

The reviewers were indifferent or perhaps slightly negative on the decision to do away with the "cancel" button in the email "send" dialogue, which now requires you to press the "back" button (beneath the screen) to cancel.

Most Android users should get the tile "upgrade" sometime later this week, bringing their freeloading mobile Gmail days to an end.

quote: If you want to participate normally in the Android world, you have to set up that Gmail account.

Well, you're free to believe whatever you want to believe even if it's wrong. The Kindles use Android, but are locked to the Amazon store. You can't install the Google Play store without rooting them. They seem to be selling just fine. Hardly dysfunctional without a gmail account as you claim.

quote: As I noted above already, sure, you can sideload apps. Or maybe sideload some 3rd-part app store thing. But then you're out in the cold for the normal methods of developers getting their apps to you...you can't necessarily count on any given app being available from said 3rd party app store.

The smart developers have figured out they can offer their apps both in the Play store and on their website. Thinking that everything is only available in the Play store is an iOS-ism, where Apple locks you in and gives you only one way to get apps onto your device. That's not how Android works.